About
Bringing natural materials into homes and spaces.
Barnby Design
At Barnby Design, we have a genuine love for natural materials and the way they help shape warm, lived-in spaces. We’re passionate about bringing honest, natural materials into interiors — from private homes to commercial projects — through considered contemporary furniture.
Led by designer Robert Barnby, the workshop sits just outside the picturesque town of Hay-on-Wye, Herefordshire. Since founding Barnby Design in 2012, Rob has worked with a simple aim: to create furniture that stands apart not only in build quality, but in the care and thought behind its design.
Making — shaping materials by hand — is deeply rewarding, but the real focus is refining design. Each piece is a study in proportion, balance, and purpose, resulting in furniture that feels calm, confident, and enduring across both homes and commercial spaces.
Made to Order
Many Barnby Design pieces are made to order, allowing us to focus on quality over volume. This slower, more deliberate process means each item is built with care and attention, rather than rushed through production. It also reflects our small-batch studio approach, where craftsmanship, material quality, and meaningful detail are prioritised over scale.
Your furniture isn’t mass-produced — it’s made with intention, for a specific home or space and a specific purpose.
Attention to Detail
Industrial designer Dieter Rams famously said:
“Good design is as little design as possible.”
In reality, achieving that clarity takes time. It is a process of careful decisions, subtle adjustments, and knowing when to stop. At Barnby Design, details are not added for effect — they are shaped, refined, and resolved so that each piece feels natural and effortless.
We hope this quiet attention to detail is something you notice when living with our furniture — pieces made not just for today, but to be used, enjoyed, and passed on.
Subtle. Considered. Made to last.
